Tyrone

Hair loss and male-pattern baldness is an affliction suffered by thousands of men, and can be a real source of insecurity and embarrassment for those not ready to lose their hair or shave their head. Even worse, and more devastating are the younger cases where the hair loss process begins long before a man even reaches his thirtieth birthday. So what are your options if you are one of these men, uncontrollably losing your hair before your time?

Well, you can do what many others do shave your head for the sake of uniformity. Lots of men look great with a shaved head it just fits their personality and style, and they seem comfortable that way. For those unwilling to give up on their hair, there are hairpieces or plugs, neither of which have been perfected to the point of being undetectable, and both having a societal stigma as being somewhat tacky and undesirable.

The other option, of course, is to try one of the hair loss products that several reputable manufacturers now offer, both in prescription and nonprescription form. While there is still no magic pill that can unflinchingly promise every man (and woman) who takes it will re-grow their hair, there are some very promising and effective hair loss products and treatments currently on the market and also in development.

Propecia, Rogaine (Monoxadil), Avacor and Proxiphen are just a few of the top prescription and nonprescription hair loss products on the market today, and theyve all had varying degrees of success in re-growing their clients hair. Since the demand for hair loss products is so great, there have been many non-prescription hair loss alternatives recently introduced in an effort to offer men (and women) a more economical and convenient alternative to re-grow hair and prevent further hair loss.

There are also several vitamins that have been specially formulated both for thinning hair and to promote the speedy growth of healthy, shiny hair. Vitamins for thinning hair and faster hair growth and re-growth are usually a varying combination of several key amino acids, biotin, vitamins B6 and E, and zinc. Many who take vitamins of this nature do report thicker, more lustrous and healthy hair, but if your goal is to actually re-grow hair and not just thicken thinning hair, then you would probably want to consider a more serious hair loss supplement or treatment that specifically targets balding and hair loss.

Here's a little tip to help stimulate hair growth massage the scalp. This is an age-old hairstylist tip to help stimulate the hair follicles, unclog any blocked oil glands in the scalp, and help promote a healthy scalp and new, healthy hair growth. Plus, its relaxing and it feels good, so its not such a chore!

Hair loss supplements can range from pricey to reasonable, tested and untested, and clinically proven vs. not clinically proven. You have to use good judgment and do a little homework on the internet, or by reading consumer reviews, testimonials and surveys to see what really should work best for your situation. Some even offer money back guarantees or some sort or money back for unused portions.

Now, lets talk about being proactive in preventing future hair loss. Many times, the underlying cause for premature hair loss and male pattern balding is hereditary, but it can also be brought on by a hormonal imbalance of the male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens. Correcting a hormonal imbalance many times can stop hair loss. This example can be seen in women who notice hair loss shortly after theyve had a baby. The cause for this is a drop in hormones that kept much more hair on the head than normal during pregnancy because the levels of this hormone are unusually high at this time.

Some medications can also cause or aggravate hair loss. Typically these medications are blood thinners, gout medication, chemotherapy medications for cancer, too much vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants. Avoid tight or pulling hairstyles like high or tight ponytails and cornrows, and also stay away from harsh chemical treatments such as perms and other potentially volatile, damaging hair treatments.

Typical hair loss treatments, prescription and nonprescription, usually take about six months before you can tell they are working, so patience is a must. There is no overnight fix to hair loss unfortunately. As long as you are comfortable with your chosen hair loss remedy, and have planned a preventative and maintenance course of action, thats really all that matters.

Visit Herbal Hair Loss Remedies for more information on how you can naturally regrow hair and keep your existing hair. Danna Schneider is the webmaster of Herbal-Therapeutics Effective Herbal Remedies.

Are you on the lookout to find the perfect gift for your fathers birthday this year? Like, you are just sick of getting him the same old thing. Last year, you got him the tie, the year before it was some golf balls and the year before that it was a bottle of wine. If you want to get him something that he will not even expect, go with a gemstone world globe. One would be a fantastic gift that would really show him how much you care.

What makes a gemstone world globe such a fabulous gift is that it is a very beautiful fixture that would add to the look of any place it is put in. So, your dad could place it in his office as a wonderful way to impress clients or business associates. Or he could set it in his den and even the family living room as a nice decorative touch to the space. Really, one would be a nice addition to any area.

A gemstone world globe gets its lovely appearance from the materials that it is crafted from with one of them being the gemstones themselves. They are precious stones and after being cut and polished, they become very appealing to the eye, so much so that they are even used to make jewelry. The other material that adds to this fixtures beauty is what the gemstones are actually set in and the list of options includes acrylic, wood, glass, and even stone. Each has a fantastic appearance and really adds to the look of the piece. Plus, this fixture will generally be crafted by hand, creating a one of a kind fixture that is pretty much a finely detailed work of art. And, not only would one be a fantastic gift because of its beautiful look, but it is also a very practical selection as well. Remember, it is a globe and a globe is a 3-D representation of the earth. It is a great learning tool and a fantastic way to teach people about all the important locations all over the world.

With the gemstone world globe, you might not think it, but there are actually a lot of options to choose from so you can find that perfect one to give to your father. From ones small in size to others that are quick large, and there are even ones that feature pen and pencil sets. For a great way to check out all the options, instead of going to the store, just log onto the internet and do some online shopping. You can easily compare prices and do not even have to leave the comfort of your home to do it.

So, if you want to impress your father, or anyone for that matter, with the gift you get him this year, forget the old standbys and turn to a fabulous gemstone world globe. One would be a perfect gift to show him how much you care.

Jennifer Akre, owner of many unique home decorating sites specializing in indoor furniture and accessories, gives comments and product information on world globes and gemstone globes. Find quality information before you purchase. Enhance the spirit of your home. Shop today - Click: earth globe.

As a widowed person, I feel I have a license to say the following. It is not meant to diminish anyones grief, but to say in a light way that one is not expected to wear the title of widowed around ones neck like a noose.

There are those who are made to feel they must remain forever loyal to a spouse who has passed on. They continue to wear a wedding ring years after the passing. Others refuse to move the spouses favorite piece of furniture or leave pictures and other memorabilia in a certain location in the home, because thats where it has always been.

"What would people think?"

Some have a feeling of guilt about giving away closets full of clothes that someone else could make good use of, long after the grief has been put to rest. Other items that were the possessions of their loved one are dust collectors. Some feel moving on in their lives is wrong, even though the grieving has been laid to rest and they have accepted that their loved one is not coming back. Guilt causes them to feel they are being disloyal if they have desires of wanting the companionship of the opposite sex.

I am not suggesting that everyone who loses a spouse will want to create a new family environment after a certain amount of time has passed. There are those who are perfectly happy being on their own. Some find that they are alone, but do not feel lonely. In fact, they would say, It feels good!

Relishing being alone is perfectly normal for some people. Perhaps they have spent 40 or 50 years being responsible for other people like: their children, an elderly parent, their spouse who, perhaps had been ill for a number of years. Time alone could be the goal for some and they are rejoicing in their singleness. Being alone offers them the time to engage in arts and crafts, an opportunity to go back to school, to take a job, or volunteer for a charity that is dear to their heart. New avenues are everywhere.

Letting other's rules, rule you.

Beware of living by someone elses rules. There are no rules for passing through your grief, except that you must deal with it. Recognize it. Learn as much as you can about the phases of grief and work through them. Try not to deny you are grieving. There are those who work too much, do too much, or go too much, just to avoid the painful passages they must travel through. Postponing the inevitable, makes for double duty

Be patient with yourself, cry if you need to, scream if you wish, find laughter when you can. Change what you wish to change, get rid of what you want to get rid of. Let no one tell you how you should feel. Get over it and move on when you feel it is the time for you to move on.

Being selfish is not selfish! Taking care of ones self is a good thing. And the one thing that most widowed people forget is that their spouse would not want them to spend their remaining years drifting along, waiting for life to be over with. If my dead spouse were so vindictive as to expect me to just suffer and remain in limbo for the rest of my days, Id be dancing on cars just for the spite of it, (just joking.)

Grief is a natural response to feeling the loss of a loved one, but grief need not be a life sentence!

Feel free to post a comment on this article, and thank you!

For more tips and tools to on how to survive divorce and loss and make healthy relationship choices you are invited to visit http://www.butterflyintonewlife.com

Patricia Hubbard has Facilitated a Support Group for Separated, Divorced and Widowed people for the past 11 years.

University of Phoenix Online Focuses on Team Learning

Unlike some other schools, the University of Phoenix Online focuses on Team Learning. For all classes, team assignments can make up to 20% of the students total grade. Consequently, students get more than they bargained for when pursuing an education at Phoenixs online university (UoP online).

Online Education for those Working Full-Time

UoP online believes that distance learning shouldnt be a solely individual or isolated effort. In an effort to help their students do better in their careers, UoP online believes that its students should get more practice working effectively as a virtual team. Besides submitting individual short answers and papers, students must also work as a part of a team, usually on a single course long project where the work on one week builds on the week done previously.

UoP online targets mature adults who have been in the work force for at least five years. The majority of UoP online students have been career oriented for some time. By designing their online classes so that they dont require meetings at set times, UoP online helps busy individuals advance their educations. But dont get the wrong idea; UoP online is not set up like other distance learning programs, say a correspondence course, where you set your own timeline. UoP requires you to be online at least four times a week to participate and you need to post assignments on a weekly schedule.

Effective team work is an integral part to a successful career. Many an interview has revolved around a persons team spirit. Even online jobs require collaboration to a certain degree. UoPs stance on online team learning might educate you on more than what you signed up for, too.

University of Phoenix offers degree programs in the following fields:

Accounting Health Care

Administration Human Services

Business Information Systems

Counseling Management

Criminal Justice Marketing

eBusiness Nursing

Education Technology Management

Finance

Online college courses lead to salary increase

Take online college courses that you can work around your schedule. Why go back to school? How about for more money? Studies show that the more education a person has, the more that person will make over coworkers who do the same thing but are less educated.

The more education you have, the more you get paid

Another reason you should consider distance learning courses is that it can help you change careers. If youre sick of your current job and want another career, quit dreaming and starting working toward your goals. Recognizing the need to accommodate non-traditional students, more colleges are setting up online courses to help educate students via online campuses. They arent stopping with courses either. Many colleges offer complete degree programs that you can get entirely online.

When considering what online program you will enroll in, look at the following factors:

Costs

Accreditation. For example, the only state that will let you sit for the bar if you get an online law degree is California.

Program requirements. What courses do you have to take to graduate? How many classes can you CLEP out of or get credit for courses youve taken elsewhere?

Distance learning tools. What does the school use for its virtual classroom? Not all schools use the same online tools.

What kind of financial aid is available to you?

Online programs are constantly being improved so if you looked into them a few years ago, you owe it to yourself to learn what educators have been up to in the meantime.

Change your career, change your life and get a new job.

A resource-based site to help you with education, interviews, resumes and job searches.

To read more articles in my site, please visit...

http://www.get-a-new-job.com/

For over half a century, the vision of flying cars has captured the science fiction imagination in books, movies, and commercials. At face value, the idea of a car lifting off the ground and soaring through the air is a wonderful dream, but there are more than a few caveats to making them a widely distributed reality. As people sit in traffic jams across the country, more than a few people have wished they could simply rise up off the ground and zoom past the tangled ground based transportation system.

Our current system of transportation includes planes, so why not convert automobiles for low level flight as well? On close examination, the idea of flying cars goes way beyond the engineering limitations. Todays traffic is centered on using roads and highways as directive paths for managing transportation. For our machines that are capable of flight, there are rules about altitude, flying over cities, and controlling traffic in existing air space. Automobiles equipped for flight would change the entire dynamic of the current industry, causing our society to rethink support systems like tires, brakes, engines, roads, fuel, and safety. With the horrendous accidents already taking place using a two dimensional lane changing system, just imagine the nightmare of figuring out how to regulate traffic in three dimensional space, adding the vertical aspects of watching out for crazy drivers who are trying to fly and talk on their cell phones.

A practical auto flight plan would need to be tightly controlled with new rules about vertical lane changes, intersections, traffic flow, and controlled right of way. Taking a car accident off the ground would almost certainly increase the fatality rate of even minor accidents at an astronomically increased rate. Entirely new systems for air traffic control would have to be invented and instituted.

The prospect of driving in a practical automobile based flight system is not likely to take place in this century or the next. Our technology is not advanced enough to put the prospect of aerial navigation into the hands of the average driver, anywhere in this world. It would be a pretty safe bet to assume that you will not be getting off the ground in a car within the foreseeable future. If science fiction writers want to project the future of our commute to work, they had better stick with ground based systems or teleportation devices as the means most likely to be found in our future. At least with teleportation, the advent of this new technology would have a greater potential for changing the face of transportation methods almost over night, using a single new technology to accomplish a real transformation of our society.

John Dir LittleTek Center Check out our information channel and free softtware at http://home.earthlink.net/~jdir/

When you become an aging baby boomer the last thing you want to experience is the side effects. The stiff joints, aching low back, fatigue and memory problems starting to creep up out of no where. The ability to multi task is slowly diminishing. The ease of bending to put on your socks and shoes and forget womens pantyhose is a distant memory. You look in the mirror and wonder how you got here.

So stop right there. Take back control of your life. Some think it is easier said than done. Not so, take it one step at a time. Health over fifty becomes your own personal responsibility. What you eat is just as important (if not more) now than twenty years ago. Just because you strayed from eating properly until now doesnt mean you should give up and just rely on medicine. You can find better ways to eat, exercise for your ability and eliminate some of those bad habits. Turn your life into a new hobby and put the failure thoughts out in the trash.

Instead of trying to tackle all aspects of your life, try one step in each category per week and let your motivation to succeed take over. Each week do one more positive thing to improve the enjoyment of the age you are. If you sit and whine about where you used to be those moments of now will pass you by. Youre not going to get younger in chronological aging but you can get more youthful in your movements, looks, thoughts and health issues. Here are 10 Simple steps you can do starting today:
1.Park your car 3 spaces farther away than you do now and walk.
2.Eat fish 1 more meal per week than you do already.
3.Do stretching exercises or yoga (lots of discomfort feels like bone but is tight muscles.)
4.Add 2 glasses of water per day to get closer to your needed body amount of at least 8 8 ounce glasses per day.
5.Eliminate the starch from one meal of your diet and exchange it for vegetables and fruits.
6.Drink 1 less alcoholic drink than you normally do.
7.Lower your cigarette smoking by 1 cigarette less each day until you can quit.
8.Forgive yourself or someone else of a wrongful deed.
9.Compliment yourself for doing 5 positive things for yourself each day before bed.
10.Get to bed at a decent time to achieve 7 to 8 hours of sleep.late shows on TV can wait for weekends or use the recorder to watch at a better hour.

Health over fifty does not need to be a chore. Do something to improve your life. Smile at the reflection in the mirror and you will start to smile at others as well. Your life isnt just about everyone else and their needs. Your health, youthfulness, flexibility and quality is about you and what you are willing to do for the most important person in your lifeyou.

Enjoy!

More articles and blogs by this author can be found at http://www.aging-baby-boomer-guide.com. Marge Pickering Picone is a Nutrition Consultant for Professional Nutrition Services of Rochester, Inc. and the Founder of http://www.aging-baby-boomer-guide.com.

When buying a used boat for the very first time most people will agree that it is better to buy your first boat through a dealer who has a good/sturdy reputation. If you have not bought a boat before it is hard to be trust the private sellers and their so-called deals.

No matter where you buy your used boat or who from, there are some things that you need to be aware of ahead of time.

History of Boat Maintenance: Request for a history of the maintenance/repairs so you can find out what much work has been done to it in the last few months. It will also let you know that the owner has been keeping up with looking after it. Get the name of who made the repairs on the used boat and ask them what future work will need to be done on it in the future.

Boat Inspection: Have a marine mechanic do a boat inspection before buying the boat the used boat Sure it can be an expensive testing but it saves a lot of grief later on. If you decided to inspect the boat yourself then should at least check the spark arrestors and plugs, the alternator, belts, hoses, strainer, blower, shift cables and engine alignment

Hull Condition: Checking the condition of the hull of a used boat is important. You need to check for mismatched paint, gel blisters, dry rot, and holes. Walk around the boat, tapping on the hull all over to make sure the wood/material is solid.

Propeller of Used Boat Look at the propeller. Are there cracks or nicks? Is it bent or warped? All these things and affect the efficiency of the propeller.

Boat Storage: Find out if the boat was stored inside or outside when nobody was using it. The best storage is dry but if it is outside and well-kept, then that is alright too.

Upholstery: Look for signs of the colour fading and ripped seams.

Boat Extras: If you ask if anything else comes with the boat, you will be often surprised what extras the boat owner has to give you.

Boat Appraisal Guides: Look for the boat that you want to buy in your local boat appraisal guide or N.A.D.A. The Guide will let you know if the boat you want to buy is at the current market value. If the value is lower than in the guide, you need to ask the owner why is he is selling the used boat for less than the book value. See of his answer makes sense. Who knows, you may have found yourself a really good deal.

When buying a used boat or used car, you really need to know what you want and how much you want to spend on it. Try to not let emotions get in the way.

Traveling on the Road with Boat: Last but not least, is your vehicle strong enough to pull the boat on a trailer? I have seen too many cars that try to pull an over sized boat behind them up steep hills and they just did not make it to the top. Entertaining for us to see the mud spraying from the spinning tiresbut not pleasant at all for the poor boat owner who cannot get his boat over a hill.

By: Kathryn Ali Copyright

http://boating.actual-facts.com 2007

Kathryn Ali is the Owner and Author of http://www.boating.actual-facts.com

I envy those mothers blessed with highly efficient offspring, who keep their rooms perfectly clean and ordered and who find Saturday jobs as soon as they reach the age of fifteen without being bribed, and who display such an independent streak, their parents never have a day's worry about how they will survive in the big, bad world.

I am not one of those parents. I am one of those who excavate skull pendants and safety pin necklaces from the washing machine filter, along with the occasional banana skin or a bracelet made from ring pulls. My nerves are hardened to a steely shell built over years of finding strange and alien items under my childs bed, not to mention three years worth of empty cups and glasses, the unimaginable remains of which are still adhering to the edges of the plates and solidified to a concrete like crust. Lovely!

I am the stolid survivor of a phone call from the school to say would I ask my daughter to refrain from drawing three dimensional penises on her jeans. She had drawn them with such consummate skill they appeared to be leaping out of her back pocket; I was assured by a scandalized deputy headmistress.

I am one of those irresponsible creatures who will still lend a tenner to a naughty eighteen year old who has blown two weeks allowance on clothes and wants to go to the movies. The wisest parent would, of course, refuse further funds until better sense was being shown, but I prefer the saying you are only young once to look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves. This last font of wisdom obviously originated with someone who has never met my daughter. Paper money runs away like water and pennies get left in your jeans pockets and eventually go in the washing machine everyone knows that!

What, I ask myself, panic stricken, is she going to do when faced with her first utility bill, or her first mortgage payment? Will she even read it? Will she shove it under the bed, site of her favored filing system since she was about eight years old? Will she lock herself out of her accommodation on her first night and be stranded, at the mercy of passers by and any lurking villain? Will she remember to lock the door at all?

My dearest girl is not one of those to whom maturity has come easily. Lifes responsibilities have always been to her a bit of a drag; much better to scoot out the door and head for the beach with a crowd of friends than iron next weeks laundry, let it wait till tomorrow. Well, why not indeed. The problem is, the same pile of ironing is still waiting for her attention three months down the calendar and her bedroom resembles a bomb site.

Now that this lovely, affectionate, sunny child is ready to fly the nest, how will I survive without her tread on the stair, or the sound of her trying to break into the house at two in the morning when she has forgotten her key? Who will drive me mad with requests for rides to town when she is gone? And how will I heal my poor breaking heart if any harm comes to her?

Jan Gamm writes reflections on life with an emphasis on world travel. She has lived in many countries and traveled extensively in the Far East, the Middle East, America, South America and throughout the South Pacific. She writes for fun and for money whenever she can manage it.

Networking and making business contacts is one of the toughest aspects of running a home-based business, but also one of the most successful to develop your business. One must constantly find creative ways to meet new people and introduce them to your product. If you are working from home with small children around this becomes even more difficult. Networking online may be the answer.

There are several ways to network online. One of the most inexpensive is to visit message boards (for an example of a message board, visit http://www.cwahm.com/messageboard ). You can register on message boards for free and post about your products, business or any topic on the board that interests you. This is a good way to meet other Christians who also work from home and to develop Christian business relationships.

It may also be possible to become a moderator on one of the message boards that you join. A moderator is usually in charge of one forum and helps to generate conversation; delete posts that may not belong in the forum and answer any questions people my have about the forum/topic. This is a win-win situation for both you and the message board owner. They are receiving help in maintaining their message board and you are making contacts and building relationships.

Another way to make business contacts online is through networking websites such as Ryze (http://www.ryze.com). On Ryze, you can create your own page describing yourself and your business. You can also join various networks and meet people virtually who may be interested in your product or business. This not only allows you to build business relationships, but friendships as well. There are many Christian networks on Ryze, such as the Christian Business Womens Network (CBWN). The CBWN network exists to bring Christian women together to help one another succeed in the work at home world.

For a small fee you can also create your own network on Ryze. If you have a unique product or business opportunity, it may benefit you to create a network where others can come to find information. You may also use a network to create a community environment if you have a team of people that you support in your work-at-home business. Your team can work together and find information easily all in one place.

Kelly McCausey, host of Women by Grace Radio, had this to say about Ryze, Ryze has been an incredible source of networking for me. I have made at least two of my most valuable business relationships on the networks there. I enjoy the variety of possibilities and the ease of making connections.

There are also networking groups on websites like Yahoo, Google and MSN. You can search for groups on these sites by topic and join for free. There are countless Christian groups as well as work-at-home networks to be found on these sites. These groups generally are email based, so you will receive emails from the group that will be formatted similarly to Message Board posts. This allows you the flexibility to read them when you have the time and choose the topics that interest you from the subject line. Many groups will allow you to place ads and generate conversation about your home-based business. Just check their guidelines before posting and watch the group a couple days before becoming active. You can then get a general feel for how that group works.

Another way to network and build relationships online is to visit blogs. You can search for Christian blogs or blogs that may relate to your product or service. Take the time to read some of the blog entries and leave a comment for the blog owner with your website address. Blogging is a great new trend in the work-at-home world and many people are learning to blog as a way to increase awareness of their business.

One very important, and often overlooked, way to make online contacts is to include your business name and website address in the signature of every email that you send. This makes people aware of your business and allows them to easily visit your website. Including your website link (and maybe a catchy slogan also) will catch the readers eye and give them easy access to your website. If you send emails 15 times during a day that is 15 more people that you have marketed your business to. An email signature is also a way to ensure that your current customers can effortlessly find your website. It is important that customers can find your website with minimal searching and an email signature is one of the easiest ways to achieve this.

Networking online is a great way to meet people without having to leave your home. The internet is one of the best resources available to home-based business owners. Once you have an idea of how and where to network online you will be well on your way to a successful new form of marketing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Hart is the author of the e-book, 2 Weeks Devotional Journey for Christian Work at Home Moms, and the founder and editor of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. This site is dedicated to providing work at home moms with opportunities to promote their businesses while at the same time providing them spiritual encouragement and articles. E-mail Jill at jill@cwahm.com for additional information or stop by her site at CWAHM.com. This article is free to reprint if the Author's Bio remains in tact. For additional articles, please contact Jill Hart.

Lake trout are a type of fish that are completely different then any other fish. Those that like to go lake trout fishing, know that they are difficult to catch. Unless you know just how to do so, well, your chances are small of actually getting one. Lake trout fish are the ones everyone wants though as their size can be enormous! Lake trout fishing is a great type of fishing, but you will need the knowledge of these fish before you begin to fish them.

There are many unique qualities to lake trout. One of the most important is their size. The record weight for lake trout is over 102 pounds! Imagine bringing that in! The average weight depends on what the fish eats. Those lake trout that can benefit from being in a lake with ciscoes, smelt or sculpins will grow to large sizes. These lake trout are called Siscowets or fat trout. Those that don't have this variety of small fish to eat, will eat plankton, insects, and crustaceans. Obviously, this fish is not going to weigh nearly as much.

Another unique characteristic of the lake trout is where they live. Like other trout, they enjoy well oxygenated, cold, and clear water. But to find the quality of this type of water that they need, the lake trout like to live deep. Different times of the year will bring them to different levels in the water. During the cold, winter months, you can find lake trout in 20 feet or less of water. But, in the summer months, they like to be in 50-100 feet deep water. In fact, the Siscowets go much farther down to 500 feet! It is because of this depth that lake trout enjoy that keep lake trout fishing a difficult type.

While lake trout are found in much of western and northern United States and Canada, because they live so far down that you will need to do some bottom fishing using rigs to bring that fish up. And, the battle will be a long, hard fought one at that! Do enjoy your lake trout fishing.

Ken Austin is the webmaster at All About Trout and Trout Fishing and Satisfying Your Fishing Needs

Staging a wedding is stressful, especially for a professional planner. Wedding planners are tasked with the challenge of making dreams come true on one of the most important days in two peoples lives. There are so many details that must be attended to and so many people to rely on to make it happen. While the wedding itself is often a mixture of pageantry, whimsy, and tradition, the real drama can sometimes take place behind the scenes.

Wedding planners have to be logistical wizards. They must mesh the services of multiple vendors and attend to intricate details with each one, all while adhering to the happy couples vision and budget for their perfect day. Caterers, musicians, event location staff, transportation service, and florists are just a few of the service providers involved in the big event. Each vendor must deliver impeccable, error-free service, on time and in the right place.

One often overlooked detail that is key to a trouble-free wedding party is the dance floor. Imagine for a moment that you have attended to every detail and wish of the bride and groom. You found a florist who had the right shade of roses to match the brides eye shadow, the baker has re-created the Eiffel Tower in excruciating detail, and the happy couple will say I Do just as the sun sets over the horizon. The big day arrives, you run through your final checklist, and you allow yourself a small sigh of relief when you verify everything is on track.

The wedding has gone exactly as planned and the reception is now in full swing. You finally allow yourself to breathe normally as you watch the guests happily dancing on the beautiful wood floor. Then, as you turn to check in with the bartender, you hear a shriek and a loud commotion. The brides Aunt Sally has fallen on the dance floor. You rush over to help and see that one of the seams in the floor has come apart. Aunt Sally tripped, fell, and broke her hip!

If Aunt Sally had been dancing on a Master Portable Floor, you would have ended your night pleasantly rather than in the emergency room.

There is no greater nightmare than an accident at what has otherwise been a perfect and enjoyable event. An accident not only has emotional consequences but financial ones as well. Risk management is an important part of business. You want to eliminate or minimize risks through careful planning. While you cannot prevent someone from falling because they have imbibed a little too much champagne, you can certainly avoid being liable for a fall because of faulty flooring.

Portable floors are a convenient and beautiful solution for a wedding. A portable floor can turn a simple lawn into a swinging disco. Hardwood floors lend just the right touch to an elegant or casual event. However, not all floors are created equal, and making the wrong choice could ruin your event.

Some floors have been known to simply come apart with the movement caused by dancing, just like it did for poor fictional Aunt Sally. Borders that rise above the panel surface are another common problem in portable flooring. These borders are often metal and enclose each individual floor panel. Even if it is only slightly above the panel, it is enough to catch a heel and cause injury.

In addition to avoiding the hazards of a bad floor, you also want comfort. Dancing on a rigid, inflexible floor is stressful on the body, particularly hips and joints. The floor should have a bit of spring for maximum comfort. Finally, the type of wood also makes a big difference in a floor. Many floors are made with oak. Oak is beautiful but does not make a good choice for portable flooring. It has large pores where dirt and grime can collect, causing the floor to become rough. Dancing on a rough floor is not only unpleasant but also hazardous.

Master Portable Floors are floors made for safe dancing. The floors are made with hardwood maple, which has a smooth, tight grain and tiny pores so the finish does not become rough. Maple is also durable so the floors last a long time.

Master Portable Floors have a patented connector plate which holds the floor in place so they do not separate or walk. The floors also do not have any sharp edges, or exposed metal. An extra advantage is the unique flexing action. Each panel has been engineered with a flex action. The floor gives just enough and springs back and makes you feel like you are gliding on air.

With a Master Portable Floor, wedding guests can dance in comfort and safety. We cant guarantee that our floors will make you a better dancer, but we can guarantee that you wont find a safer or more comfortable floor!

This article was contributed by Master Portable Floors. Master Portable Floors is the floor of choice by professional dancers. The floors have been rated highest quality by the American Swing Dancing Association and the Ball Room Dancing Association. Master Portable Floors has a unique flex action that provides a comfortable dancing surface that reduces hip and joint injuries. To learn more about Master Portable Floors visit www.masterportablefloors.com.

"My girlfriend dumped me because she says I 'wasn't there' when we made love. She's not the first to say this. I know something's wrong. Can hypnotherapy help me?"

Your sexual dysfunction means you engage in sex more as an observer than as a participant.

You hold yourself back from entering a trance state; you have difficulty "letting go."

There are several ways in which a qualified hypnotherapist can help you to conquer this problem. Before using hypnosis it is essential that you receive competent medical advice.

Hypnotherapy will have a particular focus depending on whether the problem is organic or psychological.

Organic sexual problems require medical intervention. Hypnotherapy may be used as an adjunct, for instance, in helping you to heal faster after an operation.

More frequently, sexual difficulties treated by a hypnotherapist concern psychological issues.

Since the process deals with your mind all sexual activity during hypnotherapy takes place only in your imagination.

What you learn through hypnotherapy is practiced privately elsewhere.

Hypnotherapy may be used to heighten your sensual involvement and to help you to be fully present while engaging in sex.

A common, effective use of hypnotherapy is to lower your anxiety.

The anticipation of failure (particularly for men anxious about their ability to have or to maintain an erection) brings on anxious feelings.

These in turn bring about the failure. Hypnotherapy ends this vicious circle and replaces the anticipation of failure with the certainty of success and confidence.

Traditional sex therapy methods are more readily accepted by you when in hypnosis because the conscious, judgmental, analytical part of your mind is temporarily set aside.

Your subconscious then absorbs the new, positive messages you've asked the hypnotherapist to create.

Precisely because hypnosis taps into the autonomic nervous system, a person can use it to improve or alter functions that normally happen without conscious control, e.g., a man's erection.

Charles, a 27-years-old former sailor and currently an electrician, consulted a hypnotherapist because he was too fearful to have sex with his wife.

They'd been married three years and had had sexual difficulties since the birth of their daughter eight months previously. Charles was afraid he'd been embarrassed once again if he tried to make love.

"Kim laughed at me the first time and now she just gives me a look of disgust." Why? Because he couldn't maintain an erection.

Charles felt humiliated and frustrated; he worried that he'd never again have satisfactory sex with his wife. His dream of fathering a son seemed unattainable.

He told the hypnotherapist that he had no problem masturbating when alone. This was a likely indicator that Charles' problem was psychological, not organic.

As was Charles' report that he always had a firm erection when having sex with the occasional housewife in whose home he was doing electrical work.

To be on the safe side, the hypnotherapist advised Charles to be examined by a medical specialist to be absolutely sure there was no organic cause for his ED.

The doctor confirmed that Charles' trouble was "100 per cent psychogenic," meaning that for some emotional or psychological reason, he could not maintain an erection.

Of course, the more Charles tried, and the more he worried, the more flaccid was his penis.

The hypnotherapist explained to Charles that hypnosis could be used to uncover the cause of his trouble, or to tackle the symptom, or both.

Charles, being the impatient type, and of course eager to end his humiliating experiences, opted for the "quick fix."

Over the course of three sessions of hypnotherapy, Charles relived successful love-making episodes from his younger years as a Navy "stud."

Then the therapist used a melding technique to encourage Charles to see himself (in his imagination, while hypnotized) from now on once again enjoying a full, firm erection well beyond the time needed to satisfy his partner.

Positive suggestions were also made by the hypnotherapist to Charles about his prowess, his confidence and his desirability to his wife.

For three months Charles and Kim had a wonderful sex life. Then he lost an erection just as foreplay had become hot and heavy.

Kim, hurt and disappointed, reacted with sarcasm. All Charles' fears and anxieties rushed back. He returned to the hypnotherapist.

This time Charles agreed to investigate the cause of his impotence.

The hypnotherapist used various approaches -- age regression, age progression (in which the "future" Charles was to explain how he'd conquered the problem) analogue symbolic imagery -- but nothing worked.

In a subsequent session, with Charles relaxed in hypnosis, the therapist told Charles he'd have a dream. His subconscious would provide this dream as a way, either directly or symbolically, to explain the origin of his impotence.

Three nights later Charles dreamed he was outside a factory. It was night time and the factory loomed dark and mysterious.

Charles felt a strong urge to scale the steel fence that surrounded the factory. Then he tried to find away in. All the doors were shut and padlocked. A security guard ("very scary, because he had my face," said Charles) told him to go away.

But Charles persisted in his eagerness to enter the factory. He ran from the guard, to the back of the building. Here was the loading dock. Charles saw a bulldozer there. He jumped into its cab and began to operate the controls.

The guard reappeared, feebly told Charles to get off the property, to go to his own place. In the distance, Charles could see a stately castle which he somehow knew belonged to him.

But his only interest was in the dark factory. The guard shrugged. Charles started up the bulldozer and charged the heavy machine toward the small back door of the factory.

As the bulldozer began to rumble forward, Charles awoke -- with a massive erection.

The dream puzzled Charles. But it enlightened the therapist. To him it revealed that Charles was in the grip of the Madonna/Whore complex.

This is the attitude that divides women into "good" and "bad." Thus, a man's wife and especially mother, are "good." Prostitutes, other men's wives and and women of ethnic groups other than the man's own, are "bad."

"Bad" women are exciting; "good" women are boring. Sex is forbidden with "good" women but possible with the "bad."

A man with this complex may have sex with his wife occasionally, or until she becomes a mother, or while a post-hypnotic suggestion lasts. But his heart is not in it. Neither is his penis.

However, with a "bad" woman he has no commitment, no respect. She is there to be used.

His conscience (the security guard) barely bothers him about penetrating the stranger (the dark factory) but, perversely, does prevent him enjoying "his" woman (the castle).

When Charles heard this explanation, he nodded in agreement. This was indeed his view. And that of his father, uncle and most of his friends. He had no serious interest in changing this outlook, especially since Kim had announced she was pregnant. The hypnotherapist's suggestion that Charles and Kim seek marriage counselling fell on deaf ears.

A lawyer we shall call Mathilde did seek help from a psychotherapist. She had told the referring doctor that she rarely had an orgasm. The truth was that Mathilde never had an orgasm -- with her husband.

She'd been faking it for years. But she had climaxed with previous boyfriends. Also during a two-night stand a few months ago.

Mathilde had been a speaker at a lawyers' convention a thousand miles from home. There she met Roger, a brooding electrical engineer who had been trouble-shooting the hotel's elevators.

"He was not particularly good-looking but he had these soft grey eyes," Mathilde confided to the therapist. She smiled. "He was brutal in bed."

Mathilde was mildly surprised to find herself telling the male therapist details she had not felt comfortable confiding to her female doctor.

There was no question of her wanting to leave the marriage. She loved her husband, had a marvellous life. All that was missing ws the joy of orgasm. It was something she yearned for.

Until she met Roger the lack of orgasms with her husband had not bothered her much. Mathilde had become used to pretending -- and to satisfying herself in secret.

The therapist faced two dilemmas:

i) perhaps, despite Mathilde's conscious denials, there was some problem between her and her husband

ii) the therapist usually worked with couples, not individuals, on such sexual challenges.

He decided that, given the husband was not present and would be unlikely to come to future sessions, he would work with Mathilde, and he would use hypnotherapy. If the outcome was successful, there would be no need to explore possible conflicts between husband and wife.

First the therapist explained a little about hypnosis and how it could help Mathilde. Her first session was devoted to her simply relaxing into hypnosis, and becoming familiar with how safe and peaceful it felt.

In Mathilde's second and third sessions of hypnosis the therapist suggested Mathilde silently relive an earlier experience of orgasm.

In her mind she was to take particular note of the physical and emotional feelings which allowed her to climax.

When the orgasm in her imagination was over she would open her eyes, though remain in hypnosis.

Then the therapist pointed out, and Mathilde confirmed, that she had been internally very relaxed just prior to making love. And that during foreplay and intercourse, she became "lost" in the pleasure.

The therapist asked Mathilde to again close her eyes and this time to imagine herself in bed with her husband. Again she could relive the details silently, no need to tell the therapist anything, except when the imagined lovemaking was over.

When Mathilde compared the earlier experience with how she felt when making love with her husband she immediately noticed her tension.

"I am not relaxed and I don't get lost in the act." Sometimes she thought about cases she was working on and at other times she focused on making sure her husband was satisfied.

In the next part of the session the therapist first gave Mathilde suggestions that she could allow herself to relax with her husband, that she could allow herself to climax with him.

The therapist again waited silently while Mathilde played the scene through in her mind.

When she signalled (with a broad smile) that the scene had reached a successful end, the therapist closed the session with positive suggestions about Mathilde allowing herself to be relaxed, focused on pleasure and allowed to climax when making love with her husband.

And so it was.

* * *

Hypnotherapy has also been used successfully to overcome other sexual problems such as overlubrication, exhibitionism, and to uncover the reason a client became a transvestite.

Before seeking help with a sexual difficulty it is important to be sure it really is a problem. For example, a man may go to a therapist because he believes he suffers from premature ejaculation. But if the man is married to a woman who dislikes sex, indeed "wants it over with as soon as possible," that's exactly what is happening, so where's the problem?

Twenty-five years old Eugene's problem was real enough: he could not become erect. A handsome, single, bus driver, Eugene had had several medical examinations; all the doctors had concluded there was no medical cause for his impotence.

At first, hypnotherapy did not help Eugene. He became more and more despondent about his failure, scared to date and unable to sleep at night.

The hypnotherapist had used approaches one or more of which usually resolve psychogenic impotence:

> positive suggestions
> aversive therapy
> satisfying imagery
> arm rigidity

But nothing worked.

The hypnotherapist finally decided to enlist the guidance of Eugene's subsconscious through finger signalling and direct relay of images in response to questions.

(With finger signalling -- also known as an ideodynamic technique -- a hypnotized person allows the subconscious to answer questions with predesignated fingers that represent "Yes," "No," "Don't Know," and "Not yet ready to answer").

This approach proved fruitful, although at first puzzling.

Hypnotherapist: "I'm going to ask your subconscious some questions. There's no need for you to think about the questions or the answers. Simply allow your subconscious to respond through the fingers it has selected.

You will probably feel a tingling begin in the finger that the subsconscious selects. Then it will lift as though of its own accord.

Now, I'd like to ask your subconscious if there is a purpose served by Eugene's impotence?"

[This question is often answered "yes" and subsequently leads to an explanation such as a desire to punish self or partner for some reason].

[Fimger responses are indicated with ( )].

Eugene: (No).

H: "Does the cause of the problem lie in Eugene's past?"

E: (Yes).

[This response steered the hypnotherapist along the wrong path. He took no account of the literalness with which the subconscious absorbs information. Consequently, the hypnotherapist understood the "Yes" response to mean that there was a specific event, a trauma or a message, that began Eugene's impotence. As was later revealed, the "cause in the past" referred, not to a particular event, but to an ongoing process.]

H: "Did the cause happen before Eugene was 20?"

E: (Yes).

H: "Did the cause happen before Eugene was 15?"

E: (Yes).

H: "Before 10?"

E: (No).

[Now the hypnotherapist, who erroneously assumes some single event happened, switches from finger responses to image responses].

H: "Okay. I'm going to ask the subconscious to present to your mind an image that is somehow connected to the problem we're dealing with."

E: "I'm in a shop. I don't know how old I am but a man picks me up. I'm very scared. He holds me to him. Someone else comes in and tells the man to put me down."

[The hypnotherapist thinks that it is possible something happened in the shop to subsequently cause Eugene to become impotent. However, further questioning reveals that Eugene sees little more than he has already reported. There appears to be no abuse, no negative messages (such as "You'll never be a man.")

The session is drawing to a close so the therapist reverts to ideomatic questioning. He decided to check the medical verdicts].

H: "Does the problem have any medical basis to it?"

E: [Long pause]. (No).

H: "Is there something physical that would help?"

E: (No).

H: "Is there something missing in Eugene's diet, or something he should not be eating or drinking?"

E: (Don't know/don't want to answer yet).

[Eugene snaps out of hypnosis, much to his own surprise. In previous sessions for other problems Eugene had enjoyed hypnosis so much he had been reluctant to emerge. He puts himself back into hypnosis].

H: "Okay. Our time is nearly up. I want to thank your subconscious for its help. I'm now asking it to provide you with a dream that will give you a strong indication on how to solve the problem that brought you here."

[Eugene once again snaps out of hypnosis].

H: "Wow. We're clearly close to something significant, otherwise you wouldn't come out so suddenly."

E: "I don't understand why. But while you were talking about me having a dream something floated into my mind: smoking."

H: [Incredulous]. "You smoke!"

E: "Yes, a lot."

H: "There you are. That's what your subconscious was telling us: the cause of your impotence is smoking! Have you stopped before?"

E: "Yes. For a while."

H: "And did you have erections okay then?"

E: [Thinks back]. "Yes, I did. I did."

[And the shop? Why did the subconscious throw that memory into Eugene's mind? Perhaps because the shop sold cigarettes.]

Copyright (c) 2005 Bryan M. Knight

Bryan M. Knight, MSW, PhD is Canada's foremost hypno-psychotherapist. His vast website "Hypnosis Headquarters" (http://hypnosis.org) offers you information about hypnosis, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy as well as ebooks, CDS, mp3s and DVDs.